Washboard.



1. M. LAPHAM.

,WASHBOARD.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR 20. I917-v 1,237,966. Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Q w A N 0 Q X m 1 a 1 2 V INV'ENITORQ WITNESSES ATTORNEY 1. M. LAPHAM.

WASHBOARD. APPLICATION F ILED MAR-20.19 17,

' 1;;237,066, Patnted Aug. 14,1917.

8 2 SHEETS SH-EET 2.

WITNESSES ATToRN Ev JERRY M. LAPHAM, OF MARIETTA, OHIO.

WASHBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application filed March 20, 1917. Serial No. 156,078.

'1 b all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, JERRY M. LAPHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washboards,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates generally to wash boards.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a wash board which is simple in construction, durable in use, and one wherein the rubbing board is so constructed and mounted to the wash board, to quickly and easily adapt the same for cleansing coarse and fine fabrics.

Furthermore, the invention among other features contemplates the production of a device of the above stated character wherein the auxiliary frame by being pivotally connected in the main frame permits the movement of the auxiliary frame to opposite sides of the main frame when desiring to present the rubbing board for use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts which will hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a wash board constructed for use; 1

Fig. 2 is a rear view;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating a section taken through Fig. 2 of the drawing;

Fig. 5 Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of the rubbing board; and 1 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the board illustrating the path of movement of the frame in dotted lines.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views, 5 denotes the wash board generally comprising a main frame 6 made of wood or the like material and formed with a pair of spaced parallel side rails 7 connected to one another through the medium of a top rail 8. Secured to the conis a section taken on line 5'5 of fronting faces of the side rail 7 at a point adjacent the lower ends thereof are bearing plates 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. within the main frame 6 is a backing denoted by the character 10 forming between the outer face of the backing and the outer vertical edges of the side rail 7 channels designated respectively by the characters 11 and 12. The bearing plates 9, better illustrated in Figs. 8 and 4 of the drawings are shown Mounted on a central line as secured at a point beneath and in spaced 17. The fact that the trunnions 14 of the frame are loosely journaled in the slots 13 of the bearing plates 9, renders the frame capable of being swung in the complete are of a circle, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, to reverse the position of'the frame from, for example, the channel 11' into the channel 12. This idea of connecting the auxiliary frame within the main frame is necessary, as I contemplate the construction of a rubbing board 18 for the cleansing of coarse and delicate fabrics. In order to carry out the object sought for, I construct the rubbing board of a single piece of corrugated metal or the like material and provide the face 19 of the rubbing board of a coarser mesh than is the face 20 thereof. The connection of the rubbing board with the auxiliary frame 15 is accomplished by curling,

the opposite vertical edges thereof around and in embracing relation with the spaced parallel side limbs 16 of the frame. This rubbing board 18 is of a length lesser than the length of the auxiliary frame and terminates slightly below a transverse slot 21 formed in the upper portion of the backing 10.

The character turned trunnions formed on the legs 16 of the auxiliary frame at a point opposite and in transverse alinement with the slot 21 and 'journa-led on said trunnions for rotary 22 indicates a pair of inmovement is a rectangular shaft 23. A T-shaped locking element 24 has its shank 25 loosely projected through the medial portion of the rectangular shaft 23 to adapt the head portion 26 thereof to be inserted through the elongated slot 21 when the auxiliary frame is seated within the channeled space 11 of the board, upon the reversing of the frame to present its finer meshed face 20 for active use, the auxiliary frame is swung in the arc of a circle, the shaft 23 rotated Within the auxiliary frame 15 to bring the head 26 of the locking member in alinement with the slot 21 of the backing, permitting the head to pass through the slot and be turned crosswise or at right angles to the slot, consequently establishing a connection of the auxiliary frame with the backing to prevent any accidental swinging movement thereof.

A soap holder 27 constructed from a single blank of sheet metal is mounted on the shaft 23 for an oscillating swinging movement embodying a. broad horizontal top Wall 28 and spaced-triangular side walls 29. The free edges of the side walls and top portion of the soap holder 27 are bent inwardly and in spaced relation with the walls to provide at opposite sides of the side walls 29 apair of grooves 30 and a second pair of grooves 31, in whichthe upper extremity of the auxiliary frame 15 contacts for limiting the movement of the soap holder in one direction. This construction further facilitates the reversing of the soap holder to assume an active position upon the adjustment of the auxiliary frame 15.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and the method of operation will be readily ap- 'Copies of this patent may be obtained for parent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and while I have described the principles of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the ap pended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what iscla'imed as new, is

1. In a wash board, the combination with a main frame having a backing provided with an elongated slot, of an auxiliary frame pivotally mounted in the main frame, and a rotatable member carried by the auxiliary frame and adapted to project through the slot of the backing for holding the auxiliary frame to either side of the backing.

2. In a wash board, the combination with a main frame having a backing, of slotted bearing plates secured to the frame in spaced relation with the lower edge of the backing, an auxiliary frame pivotally mounted in-the bearing plates and adapting the frame to be swung to opposite sides of said backing, and a rubbing board connected with said auxiliary vframe.

3. In a washb'oard, the combination with a main frame having mounted therein on a central line a backing providing within the frame a pair of channels, slotted bearing plates secured to the frame below said back ing and below the lower ends of said channels, of an auxiliary frame pivotally mounted in the bearing plates and, adapted to be swung into either of the channels of the main frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

JERRY M. LAPI-IAM.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

